The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1887-05-11
The Jail Bonds-shaII1he Ring
Iaasule TheEn9


Editor Register: Ever since the
invention of printing men have
made labored efforts to prove what
nobody ever denied, and to that
belongs Gibbons communication in
the Gazette supplements of last week
No one, so far as / know, ever deni.
ed that the county needs and must
have better jail facilities, but large
majority will decide on the 18th
inst, that the county does not need
a $4,000 Jail, either patent or any
other kind.
A queer kind of logic that COM
munication. First, 1t is claimed
that the bonds should be issued be-
cause "people are coming in and
bringing taxable property and be-
fore the bonds mature we will have
fifty per cent. more property than
now" A brilliant scheme that TO
induce immigration-create large
bonded debt for newcomers to pay.
Let the State Emigration Agent be
appraised of that plan at once, with
the understanding however, that it
is to be credited to the author of that
communication.
Second, Almost in the same
breath it is shown in the said COM
munication that in the last few years
there has been decrease in the tax
able property of the county of more
than half million dollars. But
now when Bonds are to be issued
Gibbons looks into the horoscope
of the future and with his prophetic
eye, like the Indian medicine man,
sees reflected as upon the coniuring
bones the image Though dimly
outlinedO of fifty per cent increase
of the taxable property in the next
few years. A new principle in Polit-
zeal Economy-increase the popula-
ton and taxable property by con-
tracing bonded debt. The scheme
should pc patented and sold at pat
ent prices to debt-burdened COM
mOnwealths.
Third, The author then cites the
splendidC) financial management of
the Republicans since they came into
power and calls attention to the fact
that Crooked creek bridge was
Gratis so rotten that it aftcrwards fell
down and the Republicans admins
tration had to pay $1,000 damage
All correct Mr.. G. but you as the
head of that splendid financial policy
lived for more than two years almost
within a stones throw of that bridge.
Why was it that the attention of that
paragon administration was not cal
led to the condition of the bridge
and the $1,000 damages saved?
Now let us turn for a moment
from the communication, so replcte
with rhetorical flourish and literary
excellence, and look squarely at the
jail question as it presents itself
not to any political clique or ring,
but to the men who have to pay for
it. Let us suppose that 10000
Jail must be built. Which is the
best plan? To make direct levy
to pay for it, or to issue bonds run.
ming from 90 to 30 years. Mani
testify the former, as think the fol-
lowing shows:
1t is claimed by those favoring
the issue of the bonds that if the
Jail is built by direct levy, con-
tractors will charge moro for their
work because they will be compell-
ed to discount their orders. (They
should have read Gibbons commn.
nication, and learned that aItfty
orders are now mt par * Suppose it
does cost ten percent. moro. Then
a $4,000 Jail can be built for s22, 900
and paid for at once by levy which
according to Gibbons figures only
amounts to 35 cts. on the 500 valu-
alton. Whatever the cost be, these
figures will be proportionately the
same.
But now let the bonds be issued.
$4,000 worth running from twenty
to thirty years. Then for the sake
of argument we will admit that they
can be sold at par. The Jail is
built. Then the county begins pay
ing interest and probably the crea-
ton of a sinking fund. Let us look
at the results while we pay legal
interest on the Bonds. Twenty
years pass away and the taxpayer
of the present who lives that long.
and his heirs ifhe is dead, can look
up at that structure and say there is
the FOOLS monuments $40, 600 Jail
for which we have paid the sum of
forty -four thousand dollars. The
principle and interest together will
then amount to that sum; again
suppose that the Bonds are not re-
deemed for thirty years. Then,
when large proportion the tax
payers now living are in their
graves, their children and the sur
vivors can redeem the Bonds after
having paid interest amounting to
thirty-thousand dollars or total
principal and interest of 500. 900.
Farmers, what do you think of it?
You are the men who must pay these
bonds, and remember that the value
of lands must be reduced sum
equal to the principal and interest
of the bonds, for the promised coming
emigrants will not care to pay a big
price for land, and at the same time
assume the payment of bonded
debt. Then let the bond PROPOSE
ton be voted down, and then let the
County Court lay levy, as it is au-
thorized by law to do. Then have